Pope Nicholas II

Pope Nicholas II (995-27 July 1061), born Gerard de Bourgogne, was Pope from 1059 to 1061, succeeding Pope Stephen IX and preceding Pope Alexander II.

Biography
Gerard de Bourgogne was born in Chateau de Chevron in the Kingdom of Arles, and in 1059 he was elected as pope at Siena by cardinals that opposed Antipope Benedict X becoming pontiff. He entered Rome and forced Benedict X to flee, and one of his first decisions was to make an alliance with the Normans of southern Italy. He died in 1061.